Flat Lay Photos: Pictures of Flatlays

Flatlay photography is an easy and creative way to showcase groups of products, give a stunning snapshot of a work space, or just showcase thematic elements in an aesthetically rich way.

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entrepreneurs desk from above

Entrepreneurs Desk From Above


happy birthday party decor

Happy Birthday Party Decor


watermelon scooper

Watermelon Scooper


business owners flatlay

Business Owners Flatlay


students study and prepare as team

Students Study And Prepare As Team


flatlay of a notebook with pen and cellphone

Flatlay Of A Notebook With Pen And Cellphone


packing sunglasses and cosmetics for a holiday

Packing Sunglasses And Cosmetics For A Holiday


get in touch

Get In Touch


fashion nails

Fashion Nails


online shopping sale

Online Shopping Sale


cleaning supply wood flatlay

Cleaning Supply Wood Flatlay


an overhead of a clean organized desk

An Overhead Of A Clean Organized Desk


pink heart made of flower petals

Pink Heart Made Of Flower Petals


costume headbands cat and unicorn

Costume Headbands Cat And Unicorn


happy easter sign

Happy Easter Sign


tools for teeth

Tools For Teeth


makeup brush lays on vibrant red lipstick color

Makeup Brush Lays On Vibrant Red Lipstick Color


wooden combs on a beige background

Wooden Combs On A Beige Background


contruction blueprints tools

Contruction Blueprints Tools


hands cupping coffee

Hands Cupping Coffee


red roses lace and lingerie

Red Roses Lace And Lingerie


toothbrush & floss

Toothbrush & Floss


tools for building construction

Tools For Building Construction


home decor and kitchen accessories

Home Decor And Kitchen Accessories


pink flatlay

Pink Flatlay


creative layout of an open book

Creative Layout Of An Open Book


fall harvest spread

Fall Harvest Spread


coffee in sun

Coffee In Sun


students meet and study

Students Meet And Study


creative work with color options

Creative Work With Color Options


sliced rye bread

Sliced Rye Bread


four paper crafted carrots

Four Paper Crafted Carrots


morning journal

Morning Journal


peppers and vegetables angle view

Peppers And Vegetables Angle View


flatlay of jade face roller laying on a grey stone

Flatlay Of Jade Face Roller Laying On A Grey Stone


fresh green and purple fancy lettuce

Fresh Green And Purple Fancy Lettuce


black and red friday

Black And Red Friday


vertical aerial car junk yard

Vertical Aerial Car Junk Yard


school supplies

School Supplies


mens grooming supplies

Mens Grooming Supplies


student using calculator

Student Using Calculator


light blue typewriter

Light Blue Typewriter


white blocks spells out stay well repeatedly

White Blocks Spells Out Stay Well Repeatedly


butter cream icing swirls

Butter Cream Icing Swirls


sewing tools knolling

Sewing Tools Knolling


knife chopping vegetables

Knife Chopping Vegetables


poker game on table top

Poker Game On Table Top


love letters and romance

Love Letters And Romance


blue ribbon on gift

Blue Ribbon On Gift


taking notes at desk

Taking Notes At Desk


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Tips for Your own flatlay photography

What makes this type of photography so popular is not just the look of the photography style, but that it’s relatively easy to do. Generally you don’t need to be a professional photographer to take a great flatlay image - an iPhone camera and good lighting will do!

Feel free to browse our database of flatlay images or check our tips below for creating your own beautiful pictures.

Shoot for a single color palette

Generally speaking - it’s best to select a colour pallette of about 2-3 unifying colours and work around those colors with varying patterns and textures. Having a predetermined pallette will help to unify the composition of the image and direct the mood of the piece. For example - object in navy blue and deep red will usually give the image a more somber feel to it whereas bright pinks and purples will make the image a bit more playful.

You’ll also want to make sure you use a neutral background colour as well. Most flatlay pictures use a white background, but feel free to experiment with black, grey or more muted wood tones as well. A neutral background colour will make the foreground items stand-out, complimenting the items and focusing your audience's attention towards your subjects.

Let the composition of your pictures tell a story

It’s important to consider the concept of narrative in composing flat-lay photographs. You may want to think of a “theme” before you begin and then select objects that work around this theme. For example - if your theme is “Cluttered Office” - you might choose to use objects like pens, notebooks and coffee cups. If your theme is “Brunch Time” - you might include items like toasted bagels and sparkling mimosas. Let your image tell a story through objects surrounding a common theme.

Experiment with Space and Lighting

Not all flatlay images are built the same. For some - a cluttered workspace might convey a sense of chaos to the audience while a more sparse use of objects with more negative space might give the viewer a sense of calming isolation.

With regards to lighting - it’s generally best to use calm, overhead lighting. You don’t want your lights to be too bright however, as this can wash-out some of the beauty of your colours and create jarring, odd shadows.

Natural light works best as well - especially in the morning when the sun has risen but is not yet in full force. If you’re looking for a more neutral, balanced lighting design, try going out on a day that’s a little bit cloudy to get a soft-light effect.